A forest a day! July 4: TN046A

This 27 hectare coupe is situated at the base of Mount Mueller, near the Styx and Tyenna Valleys. There is a magnificent walking track that takes visitors up the mountain to a glacial lake called Fossil Lake. This track is located right in the middle of the area scheduled for logging.

This forest contains examples of western peppermints and snow peppermint gums with a mature rainforest understorey. Sassafras, myrtle, celery top pine, horizontal and leatherwood are common throughout the area. There are also substantial areas of pure rainforest present on the site and significant stands of native laurel. Other areas within the coupe are populated with mature tea trees, pandanii and heath.
This coupe is within 700m of the current Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area. Hitchcock concludes that the Styx-Tyenna assessment area in which TN046A is located “would not only make a major contribution to the value and integrity of the TWWHA in respect of tall eucalypt forests but also facilitate maintenance of regional connectivity” (Hitchcock 2012: 100).
This forest is within an area identified as having potential karst systems, based on data from the Tasmanian Karst Atlas (DPIPWE 2010). Hitchcock noted this in his report, stating “there is significant mapped karst within the ENGO-proposed lands.” (Hitchcock 2012: 101)
Still Wild Still Threatened have surveyed the area for wildlife using remote sensor cameras. Threatened species including Tasmanian devils and spot tailed quolls have been recorded within the coupe. There are also significant areas of mapped grey goshawk habitat in the surrounding areas that occur within a kilometer of this site.
Logging has not yet begun in this coupe. However, with the extension of the current inadequate “conservation agreement” it remains excluded from the moratorium and as such, under imminent threat of destruction. TN046A is on Forestry Tasmania’s logging schedule for this year. Please help ensure that this world heritage value forest is protected from logging. CLICK HERE to take action now.

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Check out this film featuring the Mount Mueller area, including TN046A and TN044B (where Observer Tree is located)

For more information about the ‘A forest a day’ project, which is a collaboration between Huon Valley Environment Centre, Still Wild Still Threatened, The Last Stand, Markets for Change and Code Green, please click HERE.

Thank you for raising our awareness about which areas are going to be logged. This is important to bring out into the world, especially from your close position. The photo’s are just stunning. The video however can’t be viewed. The screen says it contains content from IODA and EMI who have blocked it. Who are they? Keep writing Miranda. I’m sharing your blog posts and Americans are following it now.